Derrick Rose is averaging barely one three-point attempt per game this season. Which is fine. Because he’s shooting under 23 percent on those attempts.
The problem? New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek wants him to shoot more threes.
The other problem? Rose is hoping to shoot said threes in the playoffs.
Per the New York Post‘s Marc Berman:
Derrick Rose said it with a straight face. His rarely used 3-point shot will be raring to go as soon as the postseason.
Rose, who bedeviled the Magic on Wednesday with his explosions to the rim on his way to an 18-point, seven-rebound, four-assist night, acknowledged the Knicks coaching staff is trying to get him to toss up a 3-ball now and then.
“I’m trying to put pieces of my game together,” Rose said after Thursday’s optional practice at Temple. “I’m not shooting 3s yet. Hopefully I’ll start shooting them in the playoffs. It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice and dedication to get there. I’m just adding pieces to my game throughout the season.”
So are the Knicks going to tell him or should we?
New York is four games back of the Eastern Conference’s eighth and final playoff slot, has the third-worst record in the league since Christmas and hasn’t won consecutive games in over two months. The playoffs are out of the question.
If Rose wants to start chucking more threes, he should do it during the regular season. That’s the only chance he’ll get. And that should be good for the Knicks’ tank. Or it’ll be good for Rose’s free-agent value. Which is like a win-win for Rose: either he helps the Knicks’ position long-term or earns himself more money somewhere else.
